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5. Landscaping The capabilities of strategic landscaping venture far beyond beautification in cities. Landscaping can increase the resilience of an urban area by decreasing thermal heat, collecting excess rainwater, as well as preventing air, light, and noise pollution. As areas develop, the square footage of impervious cover tends to increase. Impervious cover prevents land from performing natural functions such as climate control, moisture control, and filtration. Incorporating landscaping in areas with a lot of impervious cover, such as parking lots, can reduce the negative impacts. Like greenspace networks discussed in the Parks, Trails and Public Space tenet section, landscaping can also be connected systematically to “maximize the impact of the greenery.”23 A study conducted in Turkey found that dense landscaping or natural green space along roadways can decrease the traffic noise that can be heard from the other side. Noise from traffic may have negative impacts on human health and the local economy.24 Natural vegetation left along roadways also may lessen the cost of maintenance.28 Informing residents about the benefits of sustainable landscaping can also create collective mitigative outcomes. Below is an image from San Jose’s Guide to Sustainable Landscaping.25 The city published the guide to inform residents on best practices, and how to accomplish them in their own yards. The guide discusses how converting yards to native landscaping can be cost effective and create harmony among yards across the city.24 Creating a guide or sharing information gives residents a better understanding of possible actions they can take at home to help the resiliency of their city and its unique environmental context.
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Yu, C., & Hien, W. N. (2009). Thermal impact of strategic landscaping in cities: A review. Advances in Building Energy Research, 3(1), 237-260. Erdogan, E., & Yazgan, M. E. (2009). Landscaping in reducing traffic noise problem in cities: Ankara case. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 4(10), 1015-1022. 25 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1316/636618519470770000 24
